Game bird hunters are being
invited to help farmers disperse big flocks of paradise
shelduck from paddocks and crops on private land.

A
special two-week (three weekend) hunting season starting
on Saturday, February 8, is being held in the Wellington
region, which includes the Manawatu/Wairarapa
areas.

Wellington Fish & Game regional manager Phil Teal
says the special season has been introduced to assist
landowners who have groups of birds that are starting to
feed on new grass and crops.

“By harvesting some birds
outside the normal game season it creates enough of a
disturbance to disperse them into smaller
flocks.”

Paradise shelduck are known for moulting in
groups on open water sites in January, and once the birds
can fly again in February they tend to aggregate in
groups.

“This year we are restricting the season to
private land only,” says Mr Teal. “This will hopefully
focus efforts on areas where there are potential problems
for crops caused by large numbers of birds.”

Public
areas including DOC and Fish & Game land such as Lake
Wairarapa will not be open during the special
season.

“Putting this special season in place
demonstrates another way in which Fish & Game and hunters
are working in good faith with land owners and local rural
communities,” says Mr Teal.

The special hunting season
is open to all 2013 licensed game bird hunters
from February 8 to 23, 2014, with a five birds per day
limit.

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